A VILLAGE tapas restaurant where "people arrive as customers and leave as friends" has won an award. 

The Broadbean in Broadway has won a TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award and the chef has put the restaurant success down to hard work, determination and good food. 

Opened in 2021, The Broadbean offers small dishes for sharing and wine from a Mediterranean Cuisine. 

Ahmet Ozalp, co-owner and chef at The Broadbean, said: "We don't work for the awards but when we do get one it's appreciated because it shows that all our hard work has paid off. 

"We don't get that many reviews on TripAdvisor but we do get a lot of returning customers, locals and people who stay in the nearby hotels. 

"The Lygon Arms is only 100 yards away, people come and try us and then come back in the same week because they want to try something else. 

"We are a tapas bar, so we serve small Mediterranean dishes for sharing with wine and special drinks. 

"I am told by locals that we are not allowed to change our classic menu because our lamb tagine, gambas and meatballs are really popular."

According to TripAdvisor, "the Travellers' Choice awards honour travellers' favourite destinations, hotels, restaurants, things to do, and beyond, based on the reviews and opinions collected from travellers and diners around the world on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period."

Mr Ozalp continued: " I think we relate to people every time someone visits. 

"It's not just about the food, we ask them where they come from and what they do, they come as customers but leave as friends. 

"You get to know people and their daily life and relate to them. 

"We offer a warm welcome and friendship.

"We have guests who come here every year for three nights and spend all three nights eating here because we are so friendly."

The Broadbean has also been nominated in the North Cotswolds Awards and Mr Ozalp said the awards are especially meaningful because all the voters are local people.